Automatically-operating toy or the like.



C. BERGER. AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING TOY OR THE LIKE.- APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4. I916.

1,243,380. Patented Oct. 16,1917.

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or propelling device CHRISTIAN BERGER,

COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SUBMARINE WIRELESS Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATICALLY-OPERATING TOY OR THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN BERGER, a subject of the King of Hungary, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatically-Operating Toys or the like, of which the reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to automatically operating toys or the like, for instance, as shown herein, a toy figure, for example a miniature dog, which may be caused, after properly setting the apparatus, to subsequently automatically spring forwardly, perhaps from a miniature kennel which also constitutes 'a support for the mechanism. Naturally, many other applications of the present improvement selves, and it is, therefore, not intended to limit the present invention to the particular toy herein illustrated.

Having referred tothe general nature or scope of the improvement, it may be said that the object of the invention is to afford an apparatus of the kind which will automatically operate with substantialuniform1 ity and efficiency, and which will be inexpensive to manufacture, durable and easy to manipulate. Other objects will appear in the hereinafter following description of one or more embodiments of the improvement.

To the attainment of the objects and advantages referred to the present invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangements, design and details hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents partly in left elevation and partly in section on the plane 11 of Fig. 2, an automatically operating toy embodying the principles of the present improvemen Flg. 2 is a rear elevation of the mechanism seen in Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate certain modifications or substitutes for the actuating mecha: nism shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In each embodiment there is supposed to be, in addition to the movable toy figure, a

stationary portion which, for convenience, may be termed the frame, and in connection with these elements is shown an actuating which is preferably a Specification of Letters Patent.

following is a specification,

will suggest them- Patented ct.16, 1917.

Application filed January "it, 1916. Serial No. 70,107.

spring, but might be the force of gravity or any other force. This spring or propeller, for example, may be so arranged as to cause the movable figure or dog to spring forwardly with respect to the kennel or frame. Combined with the stationary frame and the movable figure and the propeller is a simple means for first restraining or delaying the action of the propeller, and then releasing or permitting its action so as to forcibly propel the toy figure.

This combination of elements is such that the user can very readily or-instantaneously reset the parts knowing that after a certain lapse of time, for example, fifteen seconds, the propeller will be released to cause the toy dog to come forth from his kennel. This combination permits the user for example to set the mechanical toy for operation and thereafter, shortly before the lapse of the designated time, to commander whistle for the dog to come from his kennel, affording a very amusing effect when the animal, apparently in response to the command, actually does come forth.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the frame part or rear wall 10 is shown as fixedly secured to a base or floor 11, which, together with the side walls 12, the front wall 13, and the cover or roof 14; may be designed in the form of a small house or kennel, having an opening or door 15 in the front wall of appropriate size and shape.

The article of toy figure 16 to be acted upon by the mechanism hereof, is shown in the form of a miniature dog of a size capable of being placed within the kennel in position to be acted upon by the spring or propeller so as to be propelled forwardly and caused to issue through the front opening 15 of the kennel. While the toy dog 16 might be provided with slides, rollers or the like to assist or guide its movements, it may be sufficient to simply slide the figure forward on its own feet, and it is so shown inthe drawings.

sprung position. When the spring is released by the devices hereinafter to be described, it forcibly advances and causes the toy dog to jump through the kennel door, as

described. The spring 17 may consist of a simple piece of plate metal secured by suitable screws 18 at one end, and having its other end properly located for the purposes described.

A simple means for first restraining or delaying the action of the propelling spring, and then releasing or permitting its action, will now be described. In the embodiment in Figs. 1 and 2 the delaying means so operates as to first permit a very slow or retarded movement of the spring until a point is reached where the release of the spring is permitted so that it thereupon jumps forcibly forward. The dotted lines show the position of the spring after it has jumped forward. When the toy has been set for operation the parts will be in'the full line position shown. A simple, smooth pin 18 is shown extending rearwardly from the spring 17. Acting on this pin is a frictional device 19, 20, which permits the pin to slowly slip forwardly as pulled by the spring until the pin disengages the retarding device, when the full force of the spring takeseifect. The retarding device may consist of a piece of soft rubber 19 or other similar material. This is shown in the form. of a block mounted on the rear wall of the kennel in such position that the pin 18, when forced rearwardly, will substantially contact the rubber. A second rubber block 20 may be employed and fitted to press the pin 18 toward the rubber block 19. The pin held between the two blocks is able to extract itself only in a very slow manner.

In order to facilitate resetting the device the block 20 is rendered movable by attaching it to a movable carrying lever 21. The lever is shown pivoted at22 and a spring 23, acting on the lever, tends to force the rubber blocks together. The spring 23 will be calculated of proper force as compared with the spring 17, so as to secure the desired friction, so that the pin will occupy a suitable time, such as fifteen seconds, in withdrawing from between the rubber blocks. The resetting of the device is facilitated by a handle 24' at the upper end of the lever 21. It is only necessary to move the handle to the left and to thereupon force the spring 17 rearwardly until the pin 18 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, thereupon releasing the lever 21 and setting the toy figure in-position.

In the above described embodiment the sprin 17 is employed, not only for effecting tfie forcible or quick movement of the toy figure, but is also made use of to effect the slow movement of the pin 18. In other words the same propelling force acts first in a s ow or delayed manner so as to secure its own release, whereupon it acts abruptly after the lapse of the desired time.

This construction may be varied, for example, by employing one force for effecting the slow movement which precedes the release of the propelling device, and another force or spring for compelling the quick motion thereof. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 3. The propelling spring 28 is shown connected to a lever 29 which may move forwardly at the proper time to animate the toy figure or the like. The propelling lever 29 is shownas restrained by trigger 30 carried at the forward end of a lever 31 which is pivoted at 32 to the frame 11. A light spring 33 tends to hold the parts in the latched position shown. It is obvious that by lifting the rear end of lever 31, the propelling lever 29 will be unlatched or released. To effect the slow lifting of the lever 31 may be provided, for example, a rubber bulb 34 containing air and shown as ying in a compressed condition beneath the ever.

lifting the lever and depressing the trigger 30. In this way the propelling lever 29 is caused to act after a suitable time interval. The resetting of the device may be effected by an extension 38 of the lever 31. This extension stands in the path of the lever 29. By this arrangement, when the lever is forced rearwardly, it not only sets the trig- This bulb may be compared to the rubber bulb of aneye-dropper which, when.

ger 30, but moves the lever 31 to compress the bulb 34, thereby resetting the apparatus.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the propeller 40 is shown in the form of a rod with a disk at its extremity. his rod is adapted to be forced abruptly forward by means of a spring 41. Connected to the rod and spring is a piston 42 snugly engaging the interior of a cylinder 43. Under the infiuence of the spring, the rod and piston are shown as moving toward the right. This movement is slow, being retarded by the necessity -of drawing air into the device through a restricted inlet 44. The cylinder, however, is provided with a larger inlet 45, which is about to become-uncovered as the piston moves farther to the right. When this pointof movement is reached the free admission of air permits the, spring 41 to uickly drive the piston to the other end of t e cylinder, thus securing the desired valve device.

In the modification of Fig. 5 the propellingspring 50 is shown provided with a vacuum device 51, for example, in the form of a rubber cup, adapted to be flattened by pressure against a smooth surface 52 so as to cling thereto by suctionuntil released by the slow admission of air beneath the cup, which may be permitted by means of minute scratches on the surface 52, or by a small aperture in the cup.

Various features of invention, which are illustrated but not claimed herein, are made the subject of claim in applicants copending application Serial No. 129,342, filed November 3, 1916. This refers to the generic idea of a toy or device operated under the control of a delaying device; also the employment of v a pneumatic means for restraining the release or action of the propeller; and herein I elect to make claim only to combinations not disclosed in said copending case.

It will thus be seen that I have described several structures embodying the principles 1. In an automatically operating toy or: the like the combination of a movable figureor toy, a propeller-or spring adapted when released to effect a quick movement of the figure, and means for restraining or delaying for a suitable time the release of the propeller for such quick movement, said restraining means comprising a longitudinally slidable bar connected to the propeller and a rubber-like device arranged to squeeze the bar, for effecting a frictional slowing of the propeller during the first part of its movement before its release therefrom.

2. In an automatically operating toy or the like the combination of a movable figure' or toy, a propeller or spring adapted when released to effect a quick movement of the figure, and means for restraining or delaying for a suitable time'the release of the propeller for such quick movement, said restraining means comprising a member or pin connected to move with the propeller, a friction block adapted to be contacted by said member, and a device opposed to said block for efl'ecting pressure between pin and. block during the first part of the propellers movement.

3. In an automatically operating toy or the like the combination with the frame, a figure or toy movable relatively to the frame, a propeller or spring adapted when released to efi'ect a quick movement of the figure relatively to the frame, such propeller mounted on the frame, and frictional means for restraining or delaying for a suitable time the release of the propeller.

4. In an automatically operating toy or the like the combination with the frame, a propeller or spring adapted to deliver a quick push upon a movable figure, a movable figure unattached to said propeller but adapted to be struck and propelled thereby relatively to the frame, and a slowly releasable device adapted to delay the action of said propeller when set, whereby after a substantial time interval the figure will be propelled substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature hereto.

CHRISTIAN BERGER. 

